Signaling system for mines.



E. M.,JOHNSON. SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9,1907.

1,004,879. Patented 0011.3,191'1.

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SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES. APPLICATION FILED @219, 1907.

flu-bin? 14th;

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

2 QHEETS-SEEET 2.

UNITED STATES r irn'r anion.

EDGAR M. JQHEN'SOIJ, F HANCOCK, MICI-IIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROSSD.

'BLAGKBURN, 0F HANCOCK, MICHIGAN.

SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR MINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enean M. JOHNSON,

a citizen of the United States,and a resident i [that level holds thehand lever down and of Hancock, in the county of Houghton and State ofMichigan, have invented certain; new and useful Improvements inSignaling Systems for Mines, of which the following is a specification.

The-invention relates to mine'signa l' systems and seeks to provide asimple and; effective electrically operated system by that of the oldCornish hell and which which the signals transmitted from any level tothe engineer in charge of the hoisting machi'nery for the cage or skip,will be I indicated at all ofthe other levels.

" A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofsignaling de vice and animproved station or signal box for the'ininesystem.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combinations andiarrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularlypointed out in the appendedc'jlaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the improved minesignaling system. Fig. 2 1s a cross section of one of the signal boxesor stations, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe signai hon with-'tlie cover removed.

In Fig. l. the shaft 4 and the separate levels 5 of. the mine areindicated. A skip cbrcagefiis mounted to shirt on guide rails 7 and israised and lowered by a suitable hoisting. engine at the 'mouth of themine. The mine shafts are frequently of great depth and the levels at aconsiderable distance apart and the hoisting engines usually operate theskips or cages at high speed. In many mines it has been customary toemploy the so-called Cornish hell a signaling means between the severallevels of the mine and the engineer in 'charge of the hoisting engine.-This consists of a' hell at the engineers station anda rope thereforextending down the mi ne'shaft and having an operating lever or handleat each of the levels or stations in the mine. By shifting one of thelovers up and down, one or more strokes are sounded on the hell at theengincers station to inform him, in accordance with a suitable signalcode,

fbr what purpose' th'e skin or cagejsltmbe.

Specification of Letters JPatent.

Application filed September 9, 1907.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Serial No. 391,924.

used, 2'. effor passengers, ore =..r"for po'or rock. As the skip or cageapproaches the 'deslred level at liigh speedflthe operator at hangs thehell or gives what is called a half signal,-- and the engineer slowsdown, andthen stops when the signal" is completed and the hell struck.

1 ln accordance with the present invention, suitable electric signalingmeans are employed, the operation of which is similar to In accordancewith the present invention,

a series of signaling devices, one at each of the di fle'rent levels'iorstations, are arranged on a common circu t that 18 preferably nor mallyclosed and in which circuit the engi neers signal is interposed. Asignaling switch for opening and closing the c rcuit is provided at eachstation. Pi'votedopere ating'" handles for the several switches arepreferably provided at each station and are shifted by the operators inthe same manner as the hand levers of the old Cornish bell to open andclose the circuit and transmit the desired signals to the-engineersstation. The signaling devices at all levels are at the same timeactuated so that the 0perators in different parts of the mine are keptinformed as to the purposes for which the cage orskip 'is employed, andso that there will he no improper confusion of signals; For-example, ifan operator in one ofthe upper levels of the mine, together with theengineer is notified that the skip or cage is to he used to raisepassengersor poor rock from one of the lower levels of tlie mine, hewould know that he could no t'jpufi good ore onto the skip or cage on.that trip. On the other hand, if ore was placed on a skip or cag'e inone of the lower levels, theloperator would stop it at his own level if'l'le wished to have ore'carried 'to'the mouth of' the mine shaft.

- vided with projecting perforated lugs 11 by which it may be secured inany desired position at the. mine level. The signaling means ispreferably in the form of a visual signal or target 12 which is shiftedbehind a viewopening 13 in the box by an operating magnet 14. The spoolsof this magnet, in the form shown, are mounted upon a brass plate 15fixed to a wooden base plate 16 and the latter is secured by bolts 17 toan insulating support 18 of slate or the like. The armature 19 of themagnet is carried upon a lever 20 which is pivoted to an upright 21 onthe brass plate 15 by pivot pins or screws '22. An upright 23 on theplate 15 carries an adjustable back stop 24 toward which the armaturelever 20 is pressed by a spring 25 extending between the inner end ofthe armature lever and a screw 26 that is adjustably threaded-through alug 27.. on the end of the upright 21. A screw 28 threaded through thearmature 20 near its free end is arranged to strike a portion of theupright 23 and form an adjustable front stop. Lock nuts 29 are providedon the stop screws 24 and 28 and on the spring-adjusting screw 26. Themagnet and the parts associated therewith are similar in construction tothe ordinary telegraph sounder, but this construction may be widelyvaried without departure from the invention.

The signal target 12 is fixed upon an arm or lever 30 which is pivotallyconnected adjacent its inner end to the upright 23 by a pin. 31. A screw32 extends through a slot in the inner end of the arm or lever 30 andconnects the same to the free end of thearmature lever 20 so that theleverv 30 and target 12 thereon are vibrated back and forth by thearmature lever 20 as the circuit through the magnet 14 is made andbroken. The face of the target, that is viewed through the opening 13,has its upper and lower portions differently colored. Preferably, theupper portion of the target face is red while its lower portion iswhite, and the parts are so adjusted that when thecircuit through themagnet is broken, as indicated in Fig. 2, the red portion of the targetwill be exposed through the opening 13, but the white will be exposedwhen the circuit is closed through the magnet, which is the normalcondition of the signaling device when arranged, as is preferable, upona nor mally closed circuit, as indicated in Fig. 1. The view-opening 13is arranged, in the form shown, in the rounded edge of the box cover 9and is preferably made water tight ona-e79 by means of a plate 33 ofglass or other transparent material secured therein. The coils of themagnet 14 are connected between a 'pair of binding posts 34 and 35 onthe wooden base plate 16. An insulated conductor 86 extends fromthe-binding post 34 outwardly through, an elbow'37..inserted in the rearportion of the signal box and which forms a part of the piping in whichall of the conductors of the signaling system of the mine are preferablyarranged. A strip of brass, copper or other suitable conducting materialis secured to the other bindingpost 35 and the end of this strip is bentdown into engagement with the slate support 18 and is secured thereto.The strip is also provided with a contact button 39 which is on the boxcover by a bolt 45. A rod 46 extends vertically through an opening inthe cover 9 andis threaded into a head portion 47 which in turn isconnected to the handle 43 by a bolt 48. The rod 46 is connected to theswitch blade 40, preferably by means of a pair of clevises 49 of brassor like material, secured respectively to the rod and to the switchblade and connected together by an intermediate strip 50 of insulatingfiber. A spring 51 coiled about the rod is compressed between the cover9 and the upper brass clevis 49 so that the handle is normally held inthe position shown, with the switch blade 40 pressed snugly intoengagement with the contact 39. By shifting the handle 43, the switchblade 40 may be moved to opened position. The movement of the handle islimited by a stop lug 52 thereon which is arranged to strike the upperface of the cover 9.

As indicated in Fig. 1, one of the stations or signal boxes is arrangedat each of the minelevels and preferably also, one is arranged at theengineers station'at the mouth of the mine shaft. The several stationsare arranged in series in a common circuit, the switch of each one beingconnected to the magnet of the next adjacent station by the conductors42 and 36. Current for the signaling circuit is derived from a smallbattery 53 and the ends of the circuit .are grounded to the rails orpiping of the mine shaft or connected by a return wire 54, as

diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1.

At the engineers station a pair. of magnets 55 and 56 are interposed inthe signaling circuit. The armature of magnet 55 is fixed to a tapper 57which is arrangedto strike a signal bell'58. A spring 59 retracts thetapper 57 when the circuit through the magnet is broken. The arrangementthus forms a single-stroke electric bell, that is to say, one stroke issounded each time the signaling circuit is opened and closed. Thearmature of the magnet 56 is secured to a pivoted switch lever 60 whichcontrols the flow of current through a pair of lamps 61 and 6,2. Theselamps are preferably arranged in series between the current supply wire63 and the lamp 61 is a high candle power lamp emitting white light,while the lamp 62 is a low candle power lamp emitting the red light.Switch lever 60 is connected by a conductor 64 to one of the currentsupply wires 63 and the contact.

65, which is normally engaged by thelever 60, is connected by aconducter 66 to a conductor 67 which joins two of the terminals of thelamps '61 and 62. The switch 60 thus normally closes a shunt around thelow power, red lamp 62 so that the high power white lamp 61 alone glows.hen the circuit through the magnet 56 is broken and the switch 60shifted, to opened position by a spring 68 connected thereto, thecurrent flows through the lamps 61 and 62 in series and is so'cut downin amount that the high resistance, low power red lamp 62 alone glows,while the white lamp 61 is dark. Other arrangements could be employedWhereb the shift of the switch 60 alternately ighted lamps of differentcolors, but the arrangement shown is preferred since the switch 60merely serves to open and close a shunt around a red lamp and there ispractically no sparking as it makes and breaks engagement with thecontact 65.

As stated, the several stations and the signaling means at the engineersposition are preferably arranged upon a normally closed circuit, asshown, which however, re-

quires but little current. The several targets 12 at the differentstations are thus normally held in position to expose theirwhiteportions through the view-openings 13, and the switch 60 is held closedso that the white lamp 61 atthe engineers station -.normally glows while'the'red lamp 62 is dark. The operator at any level,'by. shifting thehand lever 43, opens and closes the circuits of the magnets 14, 55 and56 to strike one or more strokes upon the signal bell 58 and alternatelyflash on and off the "red and white lamps 62 and 61 and thus notify theengineer that he desires to use the. skip or-cage and for- Whatpurposehe intends to use it. At the same time the targets 12 at the differentlevels of the. mine are vibrated and the operators throughout the mineinformed for what purpose the skip or cage is to be employed so thatconfusing signals will not be trans- As the car approaches the desiredlevel the operator will give a half signal by shifting the lever andholding it in shifted position. The red light at the engineers stationwill thus be caused to glow for a considerable length of time and theengineer notified that he should run slow. Moreover, the targets at thedifferent portions of the mine all show red so that the operators arenotified that the skip or cage is being used. At the same time the bellat the engineers station is hung by the half signal. lVhen the carreaches the level the operator releases the handle and the bell at theengineers station is sounded to notify him that the movement of the skipor cage should be arrested. If the normally closed circuit should bebroken or the system get out of order in any way, the redv lamp willglow at the engineers station and the red portions of the targets beexposed at the station boxes of the several levels so that the operatorsin the different portions of the mine and the engineer are notified,when this of time, that the signaling system is out of order andimmediate steps may be taken to remedy the defect.

It has been found thata normally closed system of this sort isparticularly advantageous for mines, since as stated, warning is at oncegiven if for any reason the system gets out of order and since the smallamount ofheat generated'by the current flowing through the coils of theseveral magnets prevents the moisture from having a deteriorating effectupon the magnets.

If necessary, to exclude moisture, corroding gases and the like, thesignal boxes may be filled with insulating oil to protect the apparatuscontained therein.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forthwithout departure from the essentials of the invention.

Having described my invention, What I "claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. 'In signaling systems for mines, a series of station boxes, one ateach of a number of different levels, each having a magnet therein, atarget operated by the magnet and visible through an opening in the box,

an energizing ;v circuit for the magnets of magnet and visible through aview-opening in said box, a normally closed operating circuit whereinsaid magnets are arranged in; series a normally closed, spring-heldswitch in each of said boxes for opening and closing a switch interposedin the signaling circuitand a signaling switch at each level for openingand closing the circuit.

4. In signaling systems for mines, a series of station boxes, one ateach of a number of different levels, each having a magnet therein, atarget operated by the armature of the magnet and having diii'erentlycolored portions visible through a view-openin the box, a pair ofelectric lamps of 111g di erent colors at the engineers station, a

switch for alternately lighting said lamps, a magnet for operating saidswitch, an energizing circuit for said station and lamp magnets and asignaling switch in each sta tion box for controlling the flow ofcurrent through said circuit.

5. In signaling systems for mines, a series of station boxes, one ateach of a number of different levels, each having a magnet therein and atarget operated by the magnet and'visible through a view-opening in thebox, a single-stroke gong and a pair of lamps at the engineefis station,a switch for alternately lighting said lamps, magnets for operating saidgong and said switch, a normally closed circuit in which said-gong andlamp'magnets and said station magnets are arranged in series, aspring-held, signaling switch in eachstation box for opening and closingsaid circuit and an operating handle for the switch mounted on the box.

' 6. A station box for mine signaling systems having a magnet therein,an armature therefor, a vibrating target operated by said armature, asignaling switch normally spring-held in closed position and arranged insaid box and connected in series with said magnet and an operatinghandle for said switch mounted on the box.

7 A closed waterproof station, box for mine signaling systems, a magnettherein, a pivoted armature for said magnet, a vibra' torytargetconnected to and operated by said armature and sible through aviewopening in said box, a signaling switch normally spring-held inclosed position and arranged in said box and connected in series withsaid magnet and an operating handle pivoted on the box and projectingexteriorly thereof and connected to but insulated fro said switch. i

8. In signaling systems for mines, a series acoasve of station boxes,one at each of a number of different levels, each having a magnettherein, a signal operated by each magnet, a normally closed operatingcircuit wherein said magnets are arranged in series, a normally closed,spring-held switch in each of said boxes for opening and closing saidcircuit, an operating handle for each switch mentioned magnet, asignaling switch at the engineer s station normally spring-held inclosed position, and an energizing circuitin which all of said magnetsand switches are arranged in series, substantially as described.

10. In signaling systems for mines, a number of station magnets at anumber of different levels and at the engineers station, all of saidstation equipments having a magnet, a vibrating visible signal or targetoperated by said magnet, and a signaling switch normally spring-held inclosed position, an additional magnet at the engineers station, anengineers signal operated thereby, and a normally closed energizingcircuit in which all of said magnets and switches are arranged inseries, substantially as described.

11. In signaling systems for mines, a series of station boxes, one ateach of a number of different levels, an electric signal in each of saidboxes, a normally closed operating circuit wherein said signals arearranged in series, a normally closed spring-held switch in each of saidboxes for opening and closing said circuit, an operating handle for eachswitch mounted on the box and connected to but insulated from theswitch, and an electric signal at the engineers station interposed insaid circuit, substantially as described.

12. In signaling systems for mines, a series of station equipments at anumber of diii'erent levels, each of said station equipments comprisingan-electric signal and a signal operating switch normally springheld inclosed position, a magnet at the en gineers station, a single-strokeelectric bell operated by said magnet, a signaling switch at theengineers station normally springheld' in closed position, and anenergizing circuit in which all of said signals and switches and saidmagnet are arranged in series, substantially as described.

13. In signaling systems for mines, a number of station equipments at ,anumber of difierent levels and at the engineers station, normally closedenergizing circuit in which each of said station equipments having anall of said signals and switches are arranged electrically operatedsignal arranged to indiin series, substantially as described.

cate danger when the circuit therethrough 4 ED' AR MQJOHNSON. 5 isbroken. and a signaling switch normally Witnesses:

s ring-held in closed position, an addi- HARRY L. CLAPP,

tional signal at the engineers station, and a I LILLIAN PRENTIGE.

